Announcing

Four decades of broadcasting. Shown here at the microphone at WOC in Davenport in July 2007. If I'd known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself!

Most places I have worked are no longer in existence. (Not sure what that says about me!) And this is one of them, KWNT Radio. I started my first commercial radio job here as a deejay on my 19th birthday, March 1, 1968. A lot of things have changed, including my weight.

I have had the honor of emceeing the Quad City Raceway Hall of Fame induction ceremonies since their 2007 inauguration. This shot was taken in September 2008.

I’ve been announcing on commercial radio most years since 1968, when I started as a deejay on my 19th birthday.

My first radio announcing work was actually in 1967 at two college radio stations.

I have been an auto racing public address system announcer every consecutive season since 1976. I’ve mainly worked stock car races, but I’ve announced motorcycle, kart, ATV, vintage/nostalgia, midget, sprint, super-modified and Indy-type car races, too.

While I mainly have worked at tracks in eastern Iowa and western Illinois, I have also announced at tracks all over the Midwest — as far from home as Rapid City, S.D. and Memphis, Tenn. — and in Florida.

I’ve emceed racing and other banquets, hall of fame induction ceremonies and news conferences.I also have announced parades and moderated political debates.